April 7, 2010
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Senior midfielder Theresa Bucci (Hudson, Ohio) scored her fourth goal of the game with just 12 seconds remaining to break a deadlock and propel the Penn State women's lacrosse team (7-4) to a key 14-13 road victory over Lehigh (9-3) on Wednesday evening at the Mountain Hawks' Ulrich Sports Complex.
Bucci, along with Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.), who also netted four goals, and Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.), who posted a hat trick, headlined the Penn State offense. Seven different Nittany Lions notched one assist.
Scoring in the back-and-forth affair, which featured four ties, began early with Lehigh taking a 1-0 lead 37 seconds into the game. Penn State promptly responded by going on a 3-0 run over the next three-plus minutes, getting goals from Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.), Dean, and Steadman.
After the Mountain Hawks' Allison Thomas made the game 3-2 after converting on a free position attempt at the 24:39 mark, Penn State countered with a free position goal of its own with sophomore midfielder Theresa Zichelli (Severna Park, Md.) beating LU goalie MaryLeah DiNisco one-on-one.
Lehigh would pull within one of Penn State at 6-5 after outscoring the Lions 3-2 over the next 15 minutes with Jen Steadman accounting for both PSU goals. Two more goals by the Nittany Lions and one by the Mountain Hawks made the contest 8-6 in favor of the road team at the break.
The second half was marked by a series of runs, started by back-to-back Lehigh goals which knotted the game at 8-8 with 26:54 remaining. Penn State then responded with three straight, including two goals from Theresa Bucci, making the game 11-8.
The Nittany Lions gave up three unanswered to make the game even before getting goals by Steadman and freshman Hayley Sofarnos (Williamstown, Australia) to retake a two-score lead at 13-11.
Lehigh leading scorer Lauren Dykstra finally got on the board with her first points of the game, helping the Mountain Hawks' tie the game at 13-13 with consecutive goals at the 9:01 and 3:45 marks.
Senior Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.) got the subsequent draw control and Penn State held the ball until Bucci's late game heroics provided the Lions with the win.
The Nittany Lions return home this weekend, hosting five-time reigning national champion and No. 1-ranked Northwestern (9-0, 1-0 ALC) in a noon contest on Sun., April 11 at Jeffrey Field. A year ago, Penn State fell to the Wildcats in the regular season (17-6) and in the ALC Championship game (13-3). The Lions last defeated NU in 2003, a 12-7 decision in Evanston.